A former bandmate introduced me to them in 1989. Then Bill helped me out with a demo after they did Angel Dust. I got the feeling that things were not working out with Jim. Bill gave me a demo to work on at one point. I worked on several songs and sent them to him, but they ended up working with Trey, which was the right decision.

Bill called Jim me in early 1996 and asked me if I would be interested in joining the band. I didn’t audition. I just jumped in and started working with Bill. I gave him a cassette full of ideas and some of them wound up on Album of the Year, which was really exciting.

On his property business (Premier Guitar)

I worked in property management—I oversaw condominiums for Homeowners Associations in the Bay area. Getting paid to play music is crazy, and to have that be your day job is just incredible. To go from that into management is quite a transition.

When the band split up, I toyed around with having my own band and putting out my own record, but I couldn’t really find the right people to work with at the time. I was also trying to be realistic about it. I just thought, look, I had a great run with the band, but it didn’t pan out, so I switched gears and grew up. Managing a portfolio of properties was probably the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. I’m glad to be playing music again for my day job [laughs].

On returning to Faith No More (Guitar World)

I quit my job because I was tired of it. A few months later, I got word that Faith No More was starting up again. So it was very fortuitous and good timing.

On whether the band works better with him than previous guitarists (Guitare Xtreme)

I’m not sure if it works better with me. I was offered a job, it was a great opportunity so I jumped onto the moving train and I am still here! I can’t really speak in place of the previous guitarists but when the original members of the group worked together for many years, there were fights, tension and ego problems. It is not abnormal that there were distances taken and separations. Jim Martin left Faith No More a long time ago very simply because it wasn’t working out. That’s life. Trey Spruance did a great job for King for a Day…the group had the benefit of this great musician but it didn’t happen. I have no idea why. As for me, I was called, I came and did the job.

On Cone of Shame (Premier Guitar)

What are you using for the beginning of “Cone of Shame,” where it’s just spare drums and a spaghetti-Western guitar line?
That was definitely one of Bill’s plug-ins because I played that part clean with a Fender American Standard Telecaster. I remember I wanted a really bright tone that would really pop out of that sparse arrangement, so I played that Tele on the bridge pickup and we added reverb and delay afterwards. Live, I’ll use an Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail.

On Rise of the Fall (Premier Guitar)

There are lots of clean parts on that song—some are mixed down a little quieter because we wanted them to sit lower in the mix compared to the vocal. I did a lot of work with my Gibson ES-335 for the real, clear precise parts. There were a few different layers on that one. For the melodic break in the vocals, I double-tracked parts with my Les Paul Custom and the Tele.

Benrun { Looking forward to Dead Cross, Primitive Race, new Imperial Teen, the next Como Asesinar y Felipes record Billy is producing. I'm still enjoying listening to the WCAL reissue...but man, I could really go for an official live release or something about now. } – Jan 14, 9:04 PM

Benrun { Awesome Bobby! I got a cheap model for my birthday back in October....but it sounds good with headphones, doesn't transfer digitally all that well. I listed to the Imperial Teen Ivanka single from 1998 before they re-recorded it for the "On" album. I like the original version a lot, plus I hadn't heard the B-Side "Sweet and Touching" since 1998 when I moved out of my parent's house and didn't have access to a record player anymore. I love that song! I love vinyl, but I also love a digital copy of all the songs. I also listened to my... } – Dec 31, 1:15 AM

Benrun { So in his interview, Chuck talks about plans to move to England so that his life partner and mother of his children can be around her family. I was hoping to talk him out of this....I live in Ohio and I haven't gotten to see him live yet! Now....I kind of wish I was heading out of the USA too. But I can't leave now, I have too much work to do. I'm a white, straight, middle class, American man. I feel the need to help my documented and undocumented countrymen and women who don't look like me or love... } – Nov 09, 7:17 PM

EF { It is very slow times. I'm a little curious as to what's going on with the guys. Are we to expect news out of nowhere for a new album...or is the group about to, to quote Mike Tyson, "fade into Bolivia"? I'm not sure how busy the guys are and where FNM falls in their priority list, but I'd love to think....maybe....2017? } – Nov 17, 2:59 PM

Todd { Benrun, thanks for your reply. I figured someone on here might know what I am getting at. With Roddy, he strikes me as the very personable, outgoing introvert. He is usually soft-spoken. Yes, he is strong in his convictions. But he also seems to be really loose and playful. Just check out his dance moves on stage! And yeah, Gould is the mastermind. Highly structured, organized, conceptual, with strong command of highly technical details. I've read interviews with him in which he goes off on all the technical equipment and processes he uses and this kind of information just seems... } – Oct 19, 3:45 AM

Benrun { I took a personality test myself just now...and I am the same as Bill, INTJ! I find that interesting in the sense that while I am a Roddy side project fan and Patton side project fan, it is Bill and his bass, lyrics, and songwriting that speaks to me so personally that I became an obsessive FNM fan, but also love everything musical that Bill touches....Harmful, the Rebirth EP, Fugly, Talking Book, Hayduk, even the music he just points out the direction towards. I think I had 3/5 of the same favorite Bowie songs as him too. I've never been... } – Oct 19, 3:20 AM

Benrun { I studied psychology back in the day, but I don't speak that language anymore. I had to look those up...I think you nailed Patton, Gould, Puffy, and Hudson. Roddy could be several possibilities for me...definitely ISFP, but also ESFJ, ENFP, or even ENTP. As much as Jon is the quiet man, Roddy is maybe the most difficult to pin down. He's absolutely a really kind person, but he also doesn't take anyone's shit. Ever. Plus he's creative and takes some pretty creative risks (ie: Sasquatch the Opera). Thanks, this was a fun topic! } – Oct 19, 2:39 AM

Benrun { Yeah, it's hard to pick any video other than Last Cup of Sorrow as their best video. It is easily the best, while From Out of Nowhere is easily the worst! } – Oct 08, 1:15 PM

Bobby B Better { I've always been a big fan of the last cup of sorrow video too. The band hasn't been in their last 4 videos starting with I started a joke...hopefully next time. } – Oct 08, 5:48 AM

Bobby B Better { Actually, I take it back...Separation Anxiety is completely and totally awesome. I just watched CoS & SA back to back. CoS is really good but SA is something else. } – Oct 08, 5:43 AM

ty { this no show from the band wont cut it. its obvious Billy is willing to do everything for the promotion of the record but others don't seem to be as involved unfortunately. the song doesn't fit the clip at all but it looks good and seedy to fit the mood of the song. interesting that the band decided to promote the record 12 months after the Sunny Side Up single and the Seperation Anxiety videos. and also, this is an E.P? if theres unreleased songs on it then what a shame it wont be released on cd! } – Oct 01, 4:24 AM

Benrun { I'm not sure why mobile wouldn't show it, but just follow that link I posted. Also, here's a really good interview with Bill, Roddy, and Puffy (together! - and good things happen when the 3 of them are spending time together - it doesn't happen a ton since Roddy lives in NYC): https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/faith-no-more-cares-a-lot } – Sep 27, 3:20 PM

Benrun { Actually, the cover looks like the band's dog Henry in an Elizabethan collar (cone of shame). I'm not sure who owns Henry the pug?? Is it Patton? Roddy? } – Sep 27, 2:47 AM

Benrun { I saw Nov 25th on the amazon search that you recommended. If you click on the individual formats, the Nov 25th line does not appear, but it does on the broad search: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/160-7954925-9272251?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=faith+no+more+cone+of+shame There is even a cover for the record now! } – Sep 27, 2:45 AM

Benrun { I don't think anything good was added to this song. The trouble with FNM covers seems to be that no one ever captures the feel or intent of the song. WCAL is a punk, snarky F U song. This just sounds too serious and angry. The only FNM covers I've liked have been total re-interpretations, like Race to Space doing Stripsearch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dToGw9YAauM or The Sparteens doing Digging The Grave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GmvHcQ1YLg } – Sep 21, 2:03 PM

Bobby B Better { The come of shame teaser really looks to me like an album cover (single)...my guess is a record store day release } – Sep 17, 4:12 AM

Bobby B Better { Yeah, I keep thinking about the remasters. I don't have any of those albums on vinyl, so I'm leaning toward that and going to itunes for the tracks I don't have on CD. } – Sep 17, 4:01 AM

benrun { yes very few of us left it seems.I don't know what the cone of shame teaser means but I am really excited.I broke down and bought p rhino reissue anywaybut they have not arrived yet.so far from samples I do not hear a sound quality improvement, not that it was really necessary though } – Sep 16, 12:35 PM

Bobby B Better { I don't do Facebook so I shall share my excitement here...CONE OF SHAME!!??!! Benrun, I'm not sure if it's just you me and admin anymore...no one else seems to comment lately...but if so at least we have each other. I'm guessing a lot read but don't comment...what do the stats look like lately Admin? } – Sep 16, 4:48 AM